EPISODE · Dec 3, 2025 · 27 MIN
Missoula 1982
from Montana Voice · host Steve Saroff
A story from 1982 set in Missoula, Montana, during the turmoil of the Cold War. In the 1980s, the US government had a large civil defense strategy called "Crisis Relocation Planning." It was a Cold War program intended to move millions of people out of major cities into rural areas if nuclear war seemed imminent. Montana officials and county sheriffs knew the plan was impossible and was considered suicidal for many reasons. But counties still completed the required maps and capacity tables because FEMA funding depended on it. Crisis relocation planning was officially abandoned by 1990. For the transcript of this story, visit saroff.com/missoula-1982.htm.Visit MontanaVoice.com for more information and to listen to additional episodes.
What this episode covers
A story from 1982 set in Missoula, Montana, during the turmoil of the Cold War. In the 1980s, the US government had a large civil defense strategy called "Crisis Relocation Planning." It was a Cold War program intended to move millions of people out of major cities into rural areas if nuclear war seemed imminent. Montana officials and county sheriffs knew the plan was impossible and was considered suicidal for many reasons. But counties still completed the required maps and capacity ta...
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Missoula 1982
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